mission & key programs
Trust for Public Land (TPL) works to connect everyone to the benefits of nature by creating parks, protecting land, and ensuring communities have access to the outdoors. In the Northern Rockies, we collaborate with local partners, landowners, and government agencies to conserve critical working landscapes, expand recreational opportunities, and strengthen the connection between people and nature.
Large Landscape Conservation:
TPL’s Large Landscape Conservation efforts in the Northern Rockies focus on protecting ecologically significant lands, wildlife corridors, and working lands that sustain rural economies. By leveraging strategic partnerships and conservation funding, we ensure that biodiverse landscapes remain intact for future generations and working lands stay in working hands, all while supporting local communities and outdoor recreation.
Thriving Communities Program:
The Thriving Communities Program is TPL’s community-first approach that expands access to nature for all by developing trails, parks, and public spaces that enhance community well-being. We collaborate with community leaders, stakeholders, and elected officials to empower rural communities, strengthen outdoor economies, and create healthier, more connected places to live, work, and play.
sevice area
TPL’s Northern Rockies team works across Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to protect and enhance the region’s vast landscapes and outdoor heritage. We prioritize the unique needs of geographically diverse communities by leading projects that expand recreation, conserve working lands, and safeguard critical natural areas. From the creation of the Yellowstone Heritage Trail in Montana’s Paradise Valley to the protection of Idaho’s timberlands, or the preservation of Wyoming’s iconic Astoria Hot Springs Park, our work ensures that treasured places remain accessible and resilient for generations to come.
unique in the central rocky mountains
We may be biased, but our team believes the Northern Rockies are full of superlatives that define the American West—its vast open spaces, rugged mountains, meandering rivers, robust populations of wildlife, and productive soils shape the character of its thriving communities, generational landowners, and a diversity of indigenous populations that stretch back thousands of years. But as people continue to discover the region’s beauty and opportunity, development and land conversions are expanding rapidly, placing increased pressure on the trails, parks, and wild landscapes that make this place so special. Working lands and access to the outdoors are fundamental to life in the Northern Rockies, and it’s our privilege to help communities protect these cherished spaces. We aim to balance conservation with growth to ensure that people can continue to enjoy connection to nature.
project highlight
In 2025, TPL’s Northern Rockies office reached a major milestone—protecting over 1 million acres across Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. This achievement was marked by the first phase of the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Project, a key effort to sustain working forests, expand public access, and support rural economies in Flathead, Sanders, and Lincoln Counties. Partnering with Green Diamond Resource Company and state and federal agencies, we are ensuring these lands remain open for recreation, provide critical wildlife habitat, and sustain local jobs—particularly as the region’s timber industry faces ongoing challenges. The Montana Great Outdoors Project protects both the landscapes and livelihoods that define these communities.
Photo courtesy of Trust for Public Land: Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Project – Thompson Chain of Lakes. Photo Credit: Kestrel Aerial Imagery
